Keeping bears safe and wild
By Terri Wiebold; photo courtesy of Sam Teague
Castle Pines students are not the only ones enjoying their summer vacation! This cub was spotted frolicking with its mama in the Happy Canyon neighborhood on June 18 around 7:15 p.m. Similar sightings of another mama bear and her three cubs have been shared throughout The Village at Castle Pines neighborhoods.
The beauty and majesty of these wild animals is wonderful, and we appreciate residents taking the time to share their photos. Please be cautious and unobtrusive if you are taking wildlife photos, remembering that they were here first. Yes, they are beautiful creatures, but they are still wild animals.
This is also a good time to remind residents that while bird feeders bring colorful feathered friends to yards, they can also bring unexpected guests.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), bears that become accustomed to bird feeders must often be destroyed as they become more comfortable around humans and their homes.
The CPW encourages residents to feed birds when bears are hibernating (mid-November to March). Summertime bird feeders should be removed before sundown daily and be hung at least 10 feet from anything a bear can climb. Make sure to keep the area underneath the feeder clean, since just the smell will attract a bear. Residents who feed birds in the summer while bears are active should be extra cautious and make sure to bear proof homes, garages, garbage cans and property.
To read more about living with bears while keeping them wild, as well as a variety of bear-related resources, visit https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Education/LivingWithWildlife/CPW-Human-Bear-Conflict-Report.pdf.
Be sure to report bear sightings to the CPW at 303-297-1192. After business hours, contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 303-660-7500. In a life-threatening situation, call 911.
